Sveaskog's shareholding in AssiDomän amounts to 98.8 per cent

Sveaskog's shareholding in AssiDomän amounts to 98.8 per cent Sveaskog AB's ("Sveaskog") public offer to the shareholders of AssiDomän AB ("AssiDomän") has, following the end of the extended acceptance period on January 14, 2002, been accepted to such extent that Sveaskog has become owner of shares representing 98.8 per cent of the capital and the votes in AssiDomän. As a consequence, the Swedish State's shareholding in Billerud amounts to 0.5 per cent of the capital and the votes. As previously announced, settlement is expected to begin on January 21, 2002 for those who have accepted the offer during the extended acceptance period. In order to offer shareholders, who have not yet accepted the offer, to participate in the offer, Sveaskog has decided to further extend the acceptance period until February 11, 2002. Settlement for those who accept the offer during such extended acceptance period is expected to begin on February 18, 2002. Shareholders who accept the offer during the extended acceptance period have the right to revoke their acceptance. To be valid, such written revocation must be received by Handelsbanken Investment Banking not later than 3:00 p.m. (Swedish time) on February 11, 2002. Sveaskog has initiated a compulsory acquisition of the outstanding shares in AssiDomän. AssiDomän has applied to Stockholmsbörsen (the Stockholm Exchange) for de-listing of the AssiDomän share with effect from January 28, 2002. This implies that the final day for trading in the AssiDomän share on the exchange will be January 25, 2002. Sveaskog AB (publ) The Board of Directors For further information, please contact: Bo Dockered, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sveaskog, +46 70 674 01 19 Lars Sköld, CEO Sveaskog, +46 70 537 97 70 Not for distribution in the US, Australia, Japan or Canada. The Offer does not apply to persons whose participation requires further prospectuses, filings or other measures in excess of those implied by Swedish law. ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net The following files are available for download: http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/01/16/20020116BIT00080/bit0001.doc http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/01/16/20020116BIT00080/bit0001.pdf